[Lesson 1] Who are they?
Welcome back to Thriving as Fashion Creative!
Are you ready for another intense module? Yay!
The first time I was approached to the term of ideal client I was in college, but I didn’t try to apply it until three years after starting my freelance business.
I used to think that ideal client profiles were for product based businesses, and I used to think that the more clients I had, the better. So, at the beginning of my business as a freelancer, I used to land all kinds of clients with all sorts of projects like women’s wear, men’s wear, kid’s wear, sportswear, jewelry, footwear, handbags, SLGs design + illustration.
I truly enjoyed learning + being involved in new projects and processes, so I didn’t mind specializing in anything. But as soon as I met a couple of nightmare clients, I realized the importance of specializing in the kind of projects that I loved and that my dream clients were looking for. This became a need for me and my business to not only survive but also thrive.
All clients who pay are not good enough, and you know it deeply in your heart – although you kind cringe with the thought of letting someone go.
But the truth is that you and your offerings are not for everyone.
You’re not a one-size-fits-all; if you’d try you’d only be one-size-fits-nobody.
So, stop trying to be everything to everyone, or you’ll actually end up being nothing to no one.
You and your work are special + different. You’re an artist, a creative, an innovator, an entrepreneur.
You don’t need all the clients in the world; you only need the right clients. Your right clients. Your dream clients.
Clients who you love, and who love you back.
Clients who get excited about what you do, and love + share + buy it without blinking.
Clients who are easy to delight – because they already love you + your work.
Clients who are easy to work with, who respect you + your process + your fees.
Clients + customers who spread the word about you and your business.
So, this module is all about uncovering your dream clients, researching who they are and what the want + need, and connecting the gap between you and them so your business becomes irresistible to them.
Let’s start with what’s a dream client
I so much rather the word dream than ideal, dream gives you a sense that is more than just ideal, almost close to perfect. But also it implies a connection between you and your dream clients like you’re meant to know each other + help each other.
Well, you’ll find the term dream client all over the web, and you’ll find different definitions and exercises to find them.
My favorite definition is a mix of things I’ve read in dozens of books + courses with things I’ve experienced myself in the different businesses I’ve run.
Your dream clients are people:
- You’re excited to work with or create for.
- You genuinely care about them.
- They are eager to pay you for your services and products. And they pay you.
- They LOVE absolutely everything you create, your skills + talents + strengths.
- They need + want the most what you do best (what you offer involving your skills + talents + strengths).
- And they get the most impact + delight out of your offerings.
Your dream clients are people you’re excited to work with or create for.
Have you had that kind of clients that just make you want to run + hide + forget? Whether because you don’t enjoy the project, the payment, or the person herself/himself, but you keep working with them because ‘hey, the money!’?
Well, those aren’t dream clients at all!
I’ve had many many many of them, and I’ve always regretted working with them. The payment never really justified the stress + frustration + overwhelm I had to deal with when working with this kind of clients. I always found myself struggling to finish the project, asking myself ‘when will all this be over?’, and thinking ‘wasn’t all this supposed to be fun?’. And of course, it took me more time to complete the projects, and when I finished I was so drained + burnt out that I needed at least two weeks for myself – seriously!
Dreams clients are the opposite of that.
Dream clients are exciting to work with, their projects are inspiring + motivating, and they keep you up late at night thinking about new ideas, and the creativity just flows.
Dream clients are friendly people who understand your work and respect your process.
And they make it easy to work with them; they give you clear and constructive feedback while they share their appreciation for your work.
They click with you and you click with them, and it makes it easy to work together, pinpoint ideas, and create beautiful work.
You genuinely care about them
Doing work only for the money is not as meaningful + fulfilling as doing work for something you believe, something you care about, and something that goes beyond getting paid.
This point is important, I’ve found out that the dreamiest of dream clients are those I care about the most. People whose projects + brands + businesses, I care about and love. And people whose dreams are important to me. The fun thing is they also care about me + my brand + my business.
It’s all about mutual and genuine care + love for what we do and what we’re sharing with the world.
They are eager to pay you for your services and products. And they pay you.
Dream clients have the budget to hire you or buy from you. They don’t give excuses; they don’t hide behind the ‘I’m a start up so please understand and price accordingly,’ no!
Even if they’re startups they understand that you’re a human being with dreams + needs + wants as valid as theirs. And even if they don’t have the funds right away, they save up to work with you.
Dream clients are eager to get in their hands your products and experience your services, and they’re happy to pay you what you ask for because they know they won’t get what you offer anywhere else.
They LOVE absolutely everything you create, your skills + talents + strengths.
Dream clients are your most loyal advocates; they get excited every time you share something new. They LOVE your work and share about you and your products to everyone they know.
They’re happy to yell about you + your awesomeness from the rooftops.
They’re not only your customers but also are they your fans + brand ambassadors.
They need + want the most what you do best (what you offer involving your skills + talents + strengths).
Besides loving what you do and how you do it, dream clients are the people who need + want the most what you offer. Especially what involves your skills + talents + strengths.
This is the point that ties them all together.
Because dream clients need + want the most what you do best, then they:
- Are willing to do and pay what’s required to work with you.
- Respect you, your process, and your prices.
- Love your work and share it.
- Come back for more.
- And get the most impact + delight out of your offerings.
These are your right people; these are the persons you should attract.
And yes, I said attract, because when you are yourself, when you own who are + what makes you unique + your strengths, these people will be attracted to you, your brand, and offerings. You won’t have to chase them anymore.
In the next lesson, you’ll see how to find them.
